Oh No, Olivia

Michael ArceneauxJanuary 27, 2012

As one of the seven people who purchased Olivia’s 2001 debut, Olivia, I feel comfortable talking about the knocked over ant-hill that is her music career. We often hear Olivia’s friends on both Love & Hip Hop and in this interview remind us that Olivia is beautiful and can sing, yet very little is said about how she kind of personifies why those qualities alone have never been enough; proving exactly why some of the tonally challenged vocalists of the world are able to usurp their more talented peers.

What’s my name?

To Olivia’s credit, she did try to dismiss talk of jealousy during her interview with The Breakfast Club, though she did up acknowledging that she occasionally thinks to herself: “You ain’t even half as good as me, what’s the problem?” It’s not like no one has tried to explain it to her.

As we’ve seen numerous times on the reality series, she’s been giving answers only she chooses not to receive them. Talented as she may be, she’s still boring. And when I say boring, I mean play with yourself until you fall asleep boring. How many times does one have to be told to stop behaving like the Tin Man’s sister from Queens before it sinks in?

Teairra Mari has given me more reasons to care about her next project and she hasn’t hit a single note throughout the entire second season. Now while I can’t manage to care a single damn about Somaya Reece’s musical aspirations, I wouldn’t mind seeing her succeed (success for her = a vanity hit via iTunes’ dance chart and maybe a collaboration with Pitbull or something) if for no other reason than she has taken the humbler approach.

I know Olivia is frustrated with her career and fed up with being taken advantage of, but why was she so condescending towards Somaya? Mind you, doing so while Somaya sits in front of her and their camera crew with a grin on her face trying to make peace. So what if you had a deal before? After more than 10 years of singing you’re in the same rescue boat paddling along with her. Yeah, maybe Somaya’s rhymes does make one wonder if a sixth grade girl in Topeka is her ghost writer. That doesn’t mean you have to be so Negative Nancy towards her, Olivia. Producers have already tapped another Nancy for that role.

In the end, my biggest issue with Olivia is her false sense of entitlement. Charlamagne was blunt enough to tell her that the show makes her look delusional. Yeah. She walks around as if she’s owed something. That’s just not a quality anyone should broadcast — particularly a fledgling R&B singer who’s had several chances already. Thing is, as much as she talks about being able to sing, it doesn’t seem like she’s figured out her point of view as an artist. Say with you will about Tamar Braxton’s attitude and vent your frustrations on her emphasis on the coochie pop over the Mary bop at her age (which isn’t geriatric, meanies), but at least Tamar has a point of view. Olivia’s just there.

Yes, she works hard, but so do a lot of other people. What makes her think that quality alone warrants success? It ought to, but everyone pursuing a dream tends to pick up at one point or another that it’s just not enough and never will be. I know how she feels, and to be fair, when contemplating my own frustrations – and whew, they’re mounting at present moment – I’ve had thoughts similar to ones Olivia reflected on TV. Fortunately, I know better than to ever make them that public. Why? Because putting down other people on the same hustle won’t help me reach mine faster. Likewise, ranting like I’m owed something will only annoy the living hell out of the people listening. People who won’t care to listen for much longer if that habit lingers a lil’ too long, for the record.